Speaker: Christine Redwood
Scripture: Ezekiel 36:24-32
Christine visited a rainforest and looked
at a 1000y.o trees. “Were you there when that seed landed on the ground? Did
you breathe in life to the seed?”
She also felt sadness about the old old
trees, many of which were cut down over the years. She thought about the
indigenous lives cut so we’ve got what we got today.
“I wonder does God grieve or celebrate the
changes?”
Ezekiel 36:1-7
God commands Ezekiel to address the
mountains of Israel.
The people of Israel were taken away in
exile and the focus here is the land. The mountains were always there, before
and after the people arrived and exited from the land. This was where the
abundance of life were to be found. However, the land was trampled. There was
sadness in the land.
“There is a close relationship between
humans and the land.”
What we do not only had effects on
ourselves, but also on the land. The land was given so the Israelites could
have a place to worship and for other nations to see this.
Ezekiel 36:18-19
The land was defiled because of Israel’s
actions. Israel was vomited out.
“God’s judgment is again coming to those
nations who destroy rather than cultivate.”
Christine is passionate about caring for
the environment but felt deeply troubled when the Baptist magazine didn’t let Christine
publish her article on climate change, saying that there’s no fixed position on
whether it exists or not.
“How we live in our land is related to our spirituality.”
Ezekiel 36:8-12 “I find myself yearning
along with Ezekiel for such a reality.”
Part of being spiritual is caring for the
space where we live in.
Ezekiel 36:35: This land that was laid
waste has become like the Garden of Eden!
Ezekiel 36:22: It is not for your sake, but
for the sake of my Holy name.
Ezekiel 36:24-28: God chooses in His grace
to transform the people instead of destroying the land.
Live in this land the way God calls us to.
“They should see God’s care for the world
through us.”
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